Rotative wheel covers, and the like

ABSTRACT

Wheel covers and the like which are mounted for rotation independently of the wheel rotation. The apparatus may be affixed to the usual hub caps of automotive vehicles, or may be affixed directly to the hub of the wheel assembly, or may be affixed to the lugs which secure the wheel to the hub assembly. Preferably, for utmost safety, the wheel covers are disposed entirely within the limits of the surrounding tire.

United States Patent 91 Marshall 1 Mar. 27,1973

[54] ROTATIVE WHEEL COVERS, AND

THE LIKE [76] Inventor: William II. Marshall, 1910 Missouri, Baytown,Tex. 77520 [22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 100,904

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.41,188, May 28,

1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. C1. ..30l/37 N, 301/37 SC [51] Int. Cl. ..B60b 7/06 [58] Fieldof Search ....301/37 N, 37 SC, 37 S, 108 S,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lyon ..30l/37 SC l-lettinger..301/37 N 3,548,185 12/1970 Hull .301/37 N 2,130,220 9/1938 Ball 1 1.301/37 N 2,443,760 6/1948 Arrison ..30l/37 SC 2,707,131 4/1955 Sundberg.30l/37 N FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 279,319 11/1930 Italy ..301/37SC Primary ExaminerRichard J. Johnson Attorney-Carl B. Fox, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Wheel covers and the like which are mounted for rotationindependently of the wheel rotation. The apparatus may be affixed to theusual hub caps of automotive vehicles, or may be affixed directly to thehub of the wheel assembly, or may be affixed to the lugs which securethe wheel to the hub assembly. Preferably, for utmost safety, the wheelcovers are disposed entirely within the limits of the surrounding tire.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,958

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 W '0/77 fl Ma/u%a// INVENTOR.

BY 560M5 gL.

ATTORNEY Patented March 27, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/'///a//7 b.Wa/ufiafl INVENTOR Patented March 27, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

BY W 7% W ////'0W? /9( Manx/50' ATTORNEY ROTATIVE WHEEL COVERS, AND THELIKE This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.4l,l88, filed May 28, 1970 by the same applicant, entitled RotativeWheel Covers, and the Like", and now abandoned.

The hub caps or wheel covers of automotive vehicles are customarilyaffixed to the wheels so that they rotate with the wheels. While suchhub caps and wheel covers may be of decorative aspect, these propertiesare limited since the wheel covers and hub caps rotate at the same speedas the wheels so that no abstract decorative effect is obtained.According to the invention, rotative wheel covers or other rotativedevices are affixed to the conventional hub caps or wheel covers, or tothe hub, of automotive vehicles, so that they rotate at speeds distinctfrom the speeds of rotation of the wheels, thereby giving an interestingand decorative effect. The apparatuses according to the invention aremounted for rotation upon a shaft which is connected to the usual wheelcovers or hubs, or to the wheelsecuring lugs, and may be louvered orotherwise formed such that air passing therepast, i.e., wind, causesrotation of the apparatuses separate and apart from wheel rotation. Thedevices may rotate because of wind impinging thereon both when thevehicle is moving and when the vehicle is not moving. The rotativeapparatus may be decorated and colored such as to produce interestingand unusual decorative effects.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof,reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational face view ofa rotative wheel cover according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the wheel cover of FIG. Imounted upon the wheel of an automotive vehicle, taken at line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modifiedform of mounting for attachment of the apparatus to the wheel of avehicle.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing another form of apparatusaccording to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the rotative device of theapparatus shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing a modified form of attachmentof the wheel cover to the wheel.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the attachment element of theapparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an axial cross sectional view of a detent connection between awheel cover, according to the invention, and a hubcap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings in detail, in FIG. 1 there is shown a rotative wheel cover 10in the form of a circular disc which is convex at the side or facefacing the viewer. The wheel cover 10 has a central opening throughwhich is disposed a shaft 11 which is threaded at its end portion 12.The shaft has an enlarged head 14, like a bolt. The disc of wheel cover10 is concentrically affixed to a bearing 15 which is retained by shafthead 14, the bearing shown being of sleeve form with shaft 11 extendingtherethrough. Other forms of bearings may be used. The shaft extendsthrough a spacer sleeve 17 and then through a central opening of the hubcap 19. The hub cap 19 is mounted on the wheel 20 of a vehicle, thewheel having a tire 22 carried therearound in the customary manner.

The wheel 20 is mounted upon the hub 23 of a vehi cle by lugs 24 screwedonto bolt studs 25 of the hub.

The wheel cover disc is provided with a plurality of general radiallyextending circularly equally spaced vanes or louvers 27. The louverformations extend outwardly from the disc, leaving openings or ventstherepast, all of the louvers being directed in the same directionaround the disc. Thus, the louvers are adapted to cause rotation of thewheel cover disc when wind flows past the disc. The open sides 29 of thelouvers catch the air to cause counter-clockwise disc movement in thedirection of arrow 32, while the opposite streamlined sides 33 of thelouvers permit air to flow smoothly therepast so that counter-rotationof the disc due to a wind velocity therepast is not encountered. Somedisc rotation results from rotation of the wheel of the vehicle, butdisc rotation is essentially independent of wheel rotation and the discmay rotate freely when the wheel is stopped.

Mounting of the rotative wheel cover of FIGS. 1-2 is accomplished byremoving the hub caps and drilling a circular hole through each hub capat the center suited to receive shaft 11. Shaft 11 is inserted throughthe bearing 15 so that the bearing is retained by head 14, then spacersleeve 17 is received over the shaft, the shaft end being insertedthrough the hub cap hole followed by placement of washer 39 therearoundand screwing wing nut 40 tightly onto the threaded shaft end to hold theentire assembly properly together.

While the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2 is a circular wheel cover, itwill be apparent that wheel covers according to the invention may be inshapes other than circular. For example, the discs may be of square,triangular,'rectangular or oval shapes, with louvers of any suitableform being properly disposed therearound to cause rotations of the wheelcovers when wind bears against the louvers of the wheel covers. It willbe understood that decorative colors may be employed as desired in orderthat interesting and decorative appearance may be enhanced. It willfurther be realized that rotations of the wheel covers may occur bothwhen the vehicle is standing still and when the vehicle is in motion.Wind alone will cause rotations of the wheel covers to produceinteresting effects when a vehicle is standing at rest, and when avehicle is in motion the wheel covers will be caused to rotate not onlybecause of the wind effects thereon, but also because of rotativeeffects caused by the rotation of the wheel upon which the wheel coveris mounted. The sizes of the wheel cover discs may be as desired, andmay be relatively small compared with the diameter of the wheel andtire, or may be larger than shown in the drawing in order to at leastpartially cover the sidewall of the tire. The principal involved is thesame regardless of the size of the wheel cover disc. It should be notedthat the rotative wheel covers may be removed from the wheel of avehicle and the hub cap of the vehicle may be used alone, the onlydistinction thereof over the original appearance of the hub cap beingthat a small hole will be provided therethrough when the rotative wheelcover is not in place.

The wheel covers may be used in connection with substantially anyvehicle. For example, the wheel covers may be used on each side of thefront and/or rear wheels of a motorcycle or the like by variation of themounting assembly as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5 of the drawing, there is shown the wheelcover or disc mounted upon a wheel of a vehicle in a different mannerthan is shown in FIGS. 12. Elements of FIGS. 3-4 which are shown inFIGS. 1-2 are given the same reference numerals in FIGS. 3-4. The wheelcover disc 10, in FIG. 3 is rotatively secured by a rivet 51 the shankof which passes through the bearing and through a spacer sleeve 52. Theinner end of rivet 51 extends through a hole of fitting 54, and isdeformed to form a second head on the rivet to hold the assemblytogether.

Fltting 54 is in the form of a four-sided body, each side being flat,the four sides being interconnected serially as shown. Opposite the sideof fitting 54 to which rivet 51 is connected, fitting 54 has a holesuitable for insertion of threaded axle end 56, the fitting beingretained by nut 57.

In this embodiment, the fitting 54, rivet 51, and sleeve 52 will rotatewith the axle, but disc 10 being mounted on bearing 15 will be free torotate independent of axle rotation. The hub cap in this case is notused. If the disc 10 apparatus is removed, the hub cap may be installedin the original manner but without a center hole as in FIGS. 1-2.

In FIGS. 5-6 of the drawings, there is shown a device of different form,for mounting on the wheel of a vehicle to give interesting anddecorative effects. The rotator 60 is shown in the shape of a lugwrench, but may take other related forms. Parts shown in FIG. 5 whichappear in the earlier drawing figures are given the same referencenumerals in FIG. 5.

A fitting 61, in the form of a knob or ball, is secured to hub cap 19,or wheel cover, by a bolt 63 passed through a central hole of the hubcap. Fitting 65 has an opening 66 adapted to engagingly yet removablyreceive fitting 61. The sidewalls around opening 66 are sufficientlyresilient to permit forceable entry of the ball thereinto, and to permitforceable removal of the ball therefrom. The ball is held in opening 66such that it will not be accidentally removed from the opening.

Bolt 68 extends through bearing 70 and is screwed into tapped opening 71of fitting 65, which is at the opposite side of fitting 65 from opening66. Bearing 70 is carried through an opening at the center of rotator60.

The radial bars 72 of rotator 60 each has an enlargement 73 at its outerend, these being or corresponding to the lug socket formations of a lugwrench. The rotator may be a lug wrench or a facsimile of a lug wrench.The rotator may take other forms, e.g. the enlargements 73 may be ofsmooth rounded shape. The number of arms may be varied. Pluralenlargements may be used. Propellor forms may be used.

The rotator of FIGS. 5-6 is not designed to be rotated by wind to theextent of the other rotators. But wind does cause rotation of thisrotator. Inertial effects cause this rotator to keep spinning after thevehicle is stopped. When the rotator is snapped off of ball 61, the ballpresents a pleasing and decorative effect. Other snap-on connections maybe used in place of fittings 61 65.

There is shown in FIG. 3, and not previously described, optionalequipment which may be provided if desired. There is shown a lockingarrangement for holding disc 10 fixed to sleeve 52, so that the discrotates with the wheel whenever free disc rotation is not wanted. InFIG. 1, disc 10 would be fixed to sleeve 17 in the same way. Bolt 76 isplaced through a hole through disc 10 and through a hole in tab 77 andsecured by wing nut 78. There is also shown a springbiased ratchet arm81 engaged with teeth of ratchet gear ring 82 affixed concentrically tothe back side of disc 10. This arrangement provides that disc 10 mayrotate in only one direction, depending on the direction of rotationpermitted by the ratchet.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-8 of the drawings, the wheel 20 having tire 22mounted thereon is the same as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. In FIG.7, the usual hub cap or wheel cover 19 is not used, and the rotatingwheel cover 10 is mounted in a modified manner. I

A spider assembly has a flat circular plate 91 having a circular centralopening 93 to receive a bolt 94, the head of which is disposed at theside of plate 91 toward hub 23. The shank of bolt 94 extends outwardly,and spacer sleeve 95, which is shorter than spacer sleeve 17 of FIG. 2,and bearing 15 of the rotating wheel cover 10 are received thereover. Anut 97 is screwed onto the outer end of bolt 94 to hold these elementsin place. Nut 97, as shown, is a cap nut having a curved turning flange.

Three identical legs 99, each in the form of a flat bar having anangular section between two terminal sections perforated for connection,are connected at three circularly spaced holes around plate 91. Theother ends of the legsare connected beneath three of the lugs 24 that ithas no projection beyond the tire. This improves the safetycharacteristics of the apparatus, since projections could cause injuryto a person struck thereby. Thus, the apparatus in this form will meetthe safety standards which are being applied more and more rigidly toautomotive vehicles. In the case of hubcapmounted rotating wheel covers,it is not always possible to design the apparatus to have all partswithin the plane of the tire sidewall.

In FIG. 9, there is shown a further connection assembly which may beused in connection with' any of the forms of the apparatus.

A ball fitting is secured by bolt 106 to hubcap 19. Body 108 has one ormore (two shown) detents 110 which are biased inwardly by springs 111.Slotted caps 112 are screwed into the detent openings 114 to permitassembly of the detents and springs. Threaded bolt formation 116 of body108 carries spacer sleeve 95 and bearing 15, on which rotating wheelcover is mounted, these being secured by nut 7. The detents aredepressed for installation and removal of the wheel cover assembly. Whenthe wheel cover assembly is removed, the ball fitting 105 is left inplace, and is of smooth decorative appearance so as not to beobjectionable. Using this form of the apparatus, the rotative wheelcovers may be quickly and easily installed and removed when desiredwithout use of any tool.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, many modifications thereof may be made by a person skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it isintended to protect by Letters Patent all forms of the invention fallingwithin the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. Rotative wheel spinners, comprising rotative body means, shaft meansfor supporting said rotative body means for free rotation about saidshaft means, and means for supporting said shaft means in coaxialalignment with the axle of a vehicle wheel, whereby said rotative bodymeans may rotate concentrically with the wheel independently of wheelrotation, said means for supporting said shaft means in coaxialalignment with said axle comprising an element having plural radiallyextending leg means adapted for connection around wheel-mounting studsbeneath the lugs screwed thereon, said element legs each beingindependently pivotal from radial positions with respect to said elementwhereby the radial extents thereof may be adjusted.

2. The combination of claim 1, said element being a circular disc means,said shaft means being inserted through an opening through the centerthereof, and said leg means being pivotally mounted circularly spacedaround the periphery thereof.

1. Rotative wheel spinners, comprising rotative body means, shaft meansfor supporting said rotative body means for free rotation about saidshaft means, and means for supporting said shaft means in coaxialalignment with the axle of a vehicle wheel, whereby said rotative bodymeans may rotate concentrically with the wheel independently of wheelrotation, said means for supporting said shaft means in coaxialalignment with said axle comprising an element having plural radiallyextending leg means adapted for connection around wheel-mounting studsbeneath the lugs screwed thereon, said element legs each beingindependently pivotal from radial positions with respecT to said elementwhereby the radial extents thereof may be adjusted.
 2. The combinationof claim 1, said element being a circular disc means, said shaft meansbeing inserted through an opening through the center thereof, and saidleg means being pivotally mounted circularly spaced around the peripherythereof.